A wish from University Senate Chairman David Williams

Did Mitch Daniels violate a promise he made to avoid partisan politics as president of Purdue University when he got paid to speak at a right-leaning think tank’s fall fundraiser?

Purdue President Mitch Daniels, left, meets with David Williams, University Senate chairman, Monday just before Daniels unveiled new initiatives for the university during a meeting with faculty. (John Terhune/Journal & Courier)

That’s the question-du-jour on the higher education beat. Daniels on Monday gave a talk about his time as Indiana governor to the Center of the American Experiment, which says it’s a nonpartisan group. However, the center says its “aim is nothing less than shifting Minnesota’s … political center of gravity to the right.”

Today, a top Purdue faculty leader weighed in on the matter. David Williams is chairman of the University Senate and a professor of medical illustration in the College of Veterinary Medicine.

Williams, who extended an olive branch to Daniels at September’s University Senate meeting by asking Purdue faculty members to stop the “undeclared ideological war” that started when Daniels was hired, said he wants the former Indiana governor to stay out of the political scene.

“… If the question is do I, as a faculty member who happens to be the Chair of the Purdue University Senate, wish he would refrain from doing these things, the answer is “yes.” I would like to see him focus entirely on being the President of Purdue University, and honor his promise to stay out of the political arena during his tenure as Purdue’s 12th President. ”

Read Williams’ full statement below.

“The issue of Mitch Daniels, as President of Purdue University, speaking to the Center of the American Experiment, and being paid for this, and possibly using one of Purdue University’s private planes to travel to and from the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, is between the President and his employer, the Board of Trustees. I do not see this as a University Senate matter to resolve, for the Senate is not consulted about the President’s employment contract by the Trustees, and I am not privy to the particulars of their oral agreements.

“However, if the question is do I, as a faculty member who happens to be the Chair of the Purdue University Senate, wish he would refrain from doing these things, the answer is “yes.” I would like to see him focus entirely on being the President of Purdue University, and honor his promise to stay out of the political arena during his tenure as Purdue’s 12th President.”

What do you think about this issue? Did Daniels renege on a promise he made to stay out of partisan politics by speaking at this event? No? Share your thoughts in the comments below.